By Clement Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – Former Israeli military chief, Gadi Eisenkot, has accused outgoing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of playing political games and deliberately delaying efforts to form a new government, despite publicly calling for negotiations towards a national unity administration.
Eisenkot, in a statement posted on his X handle, described Netanyahu’s call for negotiations as another political manoeuvre, insisting that discussions between the negotiating teams of Yesh Atid and Likud had already been scheduled for the following day.
He accused Netanyahu of preaching national unity while allegedly deepening political divisions and inciting tensions, citing the prime minister’s conduct at a state ceremony at the Knesset.
“My Israeli brothers and sisters, this is the latest bluff. Netanyahu calls for negotiations after they have already been scheduled, claims he wants unity, but disgraces a state ceremony in the Knesset and divides and incites as if there were no tomorrow,” Eisenkot said.
He maintained that Netanyahu was aware of the conditions for joining an emergency government under his leadership, including acceptance of the principles he had outlined and a clear break with extremist political groups.
Eisenkot further claimed that Netanyahu knew he had lost the election and that a majority of Israelis and members of the Knesset were opposed to his continued leadership.
According to him, Netanyahu was pursuing delaying tactics to frustrate the formation of a new government and prevent the replacement of the Knesset Speaker.
He said the next indication of the commitment of Likud and Religious Zionism to political cooperation would come on Tuesday, when the Knesset was scheduled to elect Matan Kahana, a member of parliament representing the parties advocating political change and reform, as its Speaker.
Eisenkot challenged both parties to allow the democratic process to proceed as scheduled and direct their lawmakers to support Kahana’s nomination.
Describing Kahana’s military background, he noted that the lawmaker was a former lieutenant colonel, squadron commander and commando who served in the elite Sayeret Matkal unit.
He said the vote would provide an opportunity for Likud and Religious Zionism to demonstrate whether their professed commitment to political partnership was genuine or merely another political manoeuvre.
Eisenkot, however, reaffirmed his commitment to establishing a national emergency government, saying he was working to make it happen as soon as possible.
